(Yicai Global) June 16 -- China has lifted the import ban on deboned beef aged under 30 months from Poland and Belgium that it imposed more than 22 years ago after mad cow disease was found in those countries.

The end of the ban was based on the World Organization for Animal Health rules and risk assessment results, the head of the General Administration of Customs said yesterday.

China banned boneless beef imports from Poland and Belgium in March 2001 when the two European nations suffered outbreaks of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, also known as the mad cow disease.

Before lifting the import embargo, Chinese experts visited the two countries to assess their BSE prevention and control measures and check if they were in line with China's quarantine and hygiene requirements.

China’s customs authority will examine imports of deboned beef from Poland and Belgium by following special inspection and quarantine rules, according to its head.

Editor: Martin Kadiev